Bardic Chair1870— 1883Pending Gift from Mickey Rooney

This chair is one of three currently on loan from family members of Roland Walter (1819 - 1884). Walter, a quarryman and poet who went by the bardic name Ionoron Glan Dwyryd, was born in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales.

At age 19 (about 1838) his first published traditional short poem (englynion) appeared in Y Gwladgarwr (The Patriot). In 1852 he emigrated to work as a quarryman at Hydeville, Vermont. A book, Caniadau Ionoron (Songs of Ionoron), was published in 1872 at Utica, New York. His more public presentations of poems and writings came through regional Eisteddfods, Welsh festivals of literature, music, and performance, including locations, among others, such as Utica, Granville, Middle Granville, and Fair Haven. It is also believed he competed in at least one Eisteddfod in Wales.

The awarding of a bardic chair, usually with a cash prize, was the highest award for an area of competition with the chair being crafted or donated for a specific Eisteddfod. This chair, with representations of oak leaves, acorns, and elements of a heraldic shield, is consistent with traditional bardic chair construction found in the United States in the mid to late 1800’s. The front of the right arm of the chair is stamped “D. R. Samuel.”

The determination of where and when these chairs were awarded is an ongoing process.